Gloucestershire Places (5) : Moreton-in-Marsh

Moreton-in-Marsh is a Cotswolds market town in the East of the county. The area has been occupied since the Iron Age and also Roman Britain. The Fosse Way passes through the area. The first mention of Moreton is during the Saxon period in 577CE. After the Norman conquest Moreton came under the ownership of Westminster Abbey. Moreton gained a market charter in the early 13th century.

The town expanded during the medieval period, wool and cloth making becoming valuable industries. The town became affluent especially during the 18th century. Nowadays, it is a popular tourist destination.

The church of St David dates from the early 16th century and began life as a chapel of ease. It was rebuilt in the 19th century. Moreton-in-Marsh railway station opened in 1853. Moreton was also the Southern terminus of the Stratford & Moreton Tramway which opened in the 1820s (my MA was partially on the tramway, if you are interested you can read about the line here on my old blog).

Gloucestershire Places (4) : Cheltenham

Cheltenham is a spa town to the North of the county. The settlement of Celtan Hom, which may mean steep hill, was first recorded in 803CE. It appeared in the Domesday Book as Chintenham and received a market charter in 1226. 

Cheltenham's fortunes changed when mineral springs were discovered there in 1716. In 1788 the town and it's spas were visited by King George III and other royals which made the town a highly fashionable place to visit. Horse racing at Cheltenham began in 1815, adding to the visitors who thronged to the town every year. Many visitors came via Cheltenham Spa railway station which opened in 1840.

The town is said to be one of the most complete Regency era towns, it also has a number of fine churches including St Mark's.

Gloucestershire Places (3) : Lydney

Lydney is a town in the Forest of Dean, on the West bank of the river Severn. Settlement in the area dates back to the Iron Age, a fort was built in the area. Later on the Romans built a temple on the site. The Saxons later built a settlement at Lydney which by the time of the Domesday Book was known as Ledenei.

Located on the Severn, Lydney later gained docks to capitalise on the river trade. A railway bridge crossing the Severn was built near Lydney in 1870, the bridge was damaged beyond repair after being struck by oil tankers in 1960. Lydney railway station opened in 1851, one of a number of stations in the area. Another of these stations, Lydney Junction, is now the Southern terminus of the Dean Forest preserved railway.

The parish church dedicated to St Mary dates from the 13th century though most of the current church dates from the start of the 16th.

Gloucestershire Places (2) : Ashchurch

The village of Ashchurch is at the North of the county close to Tewkesbury. The first record of the name (then known as Asschirche - Church near the Ash tree) date from 1287. Ashchurch was part of the parish of Tewkesbury until the 16th century when it became a parish on it's own. The church dedicated to St Nicholas dates from the 12th century with additions and changes in the following centuries.

The railway reached Ashchurch in 1840, the station is now known as Ashchurch for Tewkesbury (as the larger settlement doesn't have a station anymore!) The Ministry of Defence maintain a large vehicle storage depot near the village.

Gloucestershire Places (1) : Kemble

Kemble is a village at the South-Eastern edge of the county deep in the Cotswolds and close to Cirencester. The village has existed since Saxon times or even earlier as it is situated near the Roman Fosse Way. Roman tiles have been found in the nearby village of Ewen.

A pre-Christian 7th century cemetery having been found in the village. The parish church has Norman origins with a tower dating from 1250CE. Kemble is the closest settlement to the Thames Head, the source of the mighty river.

A nearby former RAF base (once home to the Red Arrows) is now known as Cotswold Airport used mainly by light aircraft.